An adjournment debate on PrescribeIT, the federal electronic prescription program. Dan Mazier of the Conservatives asked why a Liberal parliamentary secretary moved to turn off the cameras at a health committee meeting about the program, saying the $300-million program had failed. Maggie Chi of the Liberals responded that PrescribeIT was launched in 2017 and was always intended to be funded by provinces after the initial federal setup, that Quebec has now agreed to fund it itself, and that the focus should be on modernizing digital health systems. Mazier repeated that the camera question was not answered.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .
“During a meeting about a failed $300-million government program, a Liberal member voted to turn off the cameras. I want to know why she did that.”
“Madam Speaker, on April 28, the health committee held an emergency meeting on the Liberals’ $300-million PrescribeIT program failure. During that meeting, the parliamentary secretary for health moved a motion to shut off the committee cameras. She never explained why. I will ask her directly. Why did she shut off the cameras?”
Official Hansard
Madam Speaker, on April 28, the health committee held an emergency meeting on the Liberals’ $300-million PrescribeIT program failure. During that meeting, the parliamentary secretary for health moved a motion to shut off the committee cameras. She never explained why. I will ask her directly. Why did she shut off the cameras?
Loses points more than most for Vague promise×2.9Thanks×2.0Partly on point×1.7Loses points less than most for Unearned certaintyPositioningProcedure
Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
LiberalLib
Linked statement
“The federal electronic prescription system was always meant to be paid for by the provinces once it was set up. We cut federal funding because the provinces were not paying their share, and now Quebec has agreed to fund it itself. Conservatives are playing political games instead of working with us to modernize health care.”
“Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this topic, and I welcome the chance to put some facts on the record, so let us look at the facts. The fact is that PrescribeIT was launched by the previous government in 2017 after extensive consultation with provinces and territories. To create the program, the previous government worked with Canada Health Infoway, an organization that has received funding and support from Conservative and Liberal governments alike since its creation in 2001. It is also a fact that any program like this needed to begin at the federal level. If we look at similar countries that transitioned to e-prescribing, whether the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, these systems were launched through federal governments or national agencies. Of course, in Canada, provinces and territories are responsible for health care delivery, which is why PrescribeIT was built with the idea of it becoming self-sustaining, with the provinces and territories taking on their share. Another key fact is that PrescribeIT may have worked as a technology solution, as we have heard, but it did not have the support from provinces and territories financially, nor did it achieve the ideal uptake for the program to be self-sustaining. I am sure the member opposite will agree that it is important for both to happen. That is why our government took the step of announcing back in February that we were ending the funding for the program and working with Infoway on the next steps, and we are already seeing results on this front. Last week, Quebec came to the table with Infoway and signed an agreement to transition to PrescribeIT using provincial funding, exactly as the long-term model envisioned. We also know for a fact that other provinces and territories are watching how the deployment unfolds because they all recognize the value of modernizing our health data infrastructure and making sure that prescribers and pharmacists have the best tools available to serve their patients. What is disappointing is that instead of engaging seriously on these issues and topics, Conservatives continue to focus on rhetoric and procedural games rather than the broader issue of how we modernize health care for Canadians. We have before us the opportunity to study urgent public health crises, including the public health emergency declared for HIV in Manitoba, but it has been delayed by that member from Manitoba through partisan obstructions. At the same time, I commend my hon. colleague the member for Winnipeg West for standing up for vulnerable Canadians. There are many important issues before us: strengthening public health preparedness, responding to infectious disease threats, supporting health workers and improving digital health systems across the country. I ask the member to join us on this front.”
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this topic, and I welcome the chance to put some facts on the record, so let us look at the facts. The fact is that PrescribeIT was launched by the previous government in 2017 after extensive consultation with provinces and territories. To create the program, the previous government worked with Canada Health Infoway, an organization that has received funding and support from Conservative and Liberal governments alike since its creation in 2001. It is also a fact that any program like this needed to begin at the federal level. If we look at similar countries that transitioned to e-prescribing, whether the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, these systems were launched through federal governments or national agencies. Of course, in Canada, provinces and territories are responsible for health care delivery, which is why PrescribeIT was built with the idea of it becoming self-sustaining, with the provinces and territories taking on their share. Another key fact is that PrescribeIT may have worked as a technology solution, as we have heard, but it did not have the support from provinces and territories financially, nor did it achieve the ideal uptake for the program to be self-sustaining. I am sure the member opposite will agree that it is important for both to happen. That is why our government took the step of announcing back in February that we were ending the funding for the program and working with Infoway on the next steps, and we are already seeing results on this front. Last week, Quebec came to the table with Infoway and signed an agreement to transition to PrescribeIT using provincial funding, exactly as the long-term model envisioned. We also know for a fact that other provinces and territories are watching how the deployment unfolds because they all recognize the value of modernizing our health data infrastructure and making sure that prescribers and pharmacists have the best tools available to serve their patients. What is disappointing is that instead of engaging seriously on these issues and topics, Conservatives continue to focus on rhetoric and procedural games rather than the broader issue of how we modernize health care for Canadians. We have before us the opportunity to study urgent public health crises, including the public health emergency declared for HIV in Manitoba, but it has been delayed by that member from Manitoba through partisan obstructions. At the same time, I commend my hon. colleague the member for Winnipeg West for standing up for vulnerable Canadians. There are many important issues before us: strengthening public health preparedness, responding to infectious disease threats, supporting health workers and improving digital health systems across the country. I ask the member to join us on this front.
“The member did not answer my question. I want to know why the Liberal parliamentary secretary voted to turn off the cameras during a committee meeting about a failed 300-million-dollar program.”
“Madam Speaker, the member did not answer my question. Canadians want to know why the Liberal parliamentary secretary for health turned off the cameras at the health committee during an emergency meeting on the $300-million PrescribeIT program failure. It is a very simple question. Why did she vote to turn off the committee cameras?”
Official Hansard
Madam Speaker, the member did not answer my question. Canadians want to know why the Liberal parliamentary secretary for health turned off the cameras at the health committee during an emergency meeting on the $300-million PrescribeIT program failure. It is a very simple question. Why did she vote to turn off the committee cameras?
Loses points more than most for Vague promise×2.9Thanks×2.0Partly on point×1.7Loses points less than most for Unearned certaintyPositioningProcedure
Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
LiberalLib
“PrescribeIT was created to modernize how we share health data. It had challenges, so we made decisions about its federal funding while letting provinces like Quebec use what works for them. Now, we must focus on improving digital health systems.”
“Madam Speaker, Canadians expect us to approach issues like this with a focus on outcomes. The reality is that PrescribeIT was created to help modernize the way health information is shared and to reduce reliance on outdated systems. Like many large-scale digital health initiatives, there were challenges, lessons learned and important questions about long-term sustainability. Our government made a decision regarding future federal funding while ensuring that provinces, like Quebec, could continue moving forward with deployment models that meet their own needs. What is important now is that we focus on strengthening digital health infrastructure—”
Madam Speaker, Canadians expect us to approach issues like this with a focus on outcomes. The reality is that PrescribeIT was created to help modernize the way health information is shared and to reduce reliance on outdated systems. Like many large-scale digital health initiatives, there were challenges, lessons learned and important questions about long-term sustainability. Our government made a decision regarding future federal funding while ensuring that provinces, like Quebec, could continue moving forward with deployment models that meet their own needs. What is important now is that we focus on strengthening digital health infrastructure—
